Investment Q&A

Q: Charge as many credits as you see fit...at least 4...got lots. Annually, I follow the O'Shaughnessy system and go through the tedious process of ranking over 90 stocks into deciles. I am screening for stocks that are good value, less volatile and have a good + growing dividend. For value, I use P/E, P/B, P/CF, P/S. For volatility, I use Beta. For dividends, this year I have added 5 year growth % into the process. The resultant summary number is the cumulative of the 7 metrics, with roughly 60% value, 15% volatility and 25% dividend weighting. I then marry this up with a technical screening, using charts with a 200 mda, looking for a rising vs rangebound vs declining chart.

Question 1 = your thoughts on my screening system? I thought of adding in other metrics, but I wanted to keep it relatively simple. Factors such as payout % and ROE can always be a looked at in the next phase. Should I drop any of the metrics if they are redundant?

Most of the stocks screened as expected. However, 3 stocks didn't screen well at all and I am trying to figure out why. It may be that my population of stocks is skewed to value stocks, so if any of the other 3 stocks had growth or REIT characteristics, then they might be seen as outliers.

Question 2 = CSH's fundamentals screened horribly = 10th decile. Could it be that REITs may screen out differently, due to their very nature?

Question 3 =Both PBH and WSP screened poorly = 8th decile. Could it be their fundamental metrics exhibit more growth characteristics?

Question 4 = Reading past 5iR questions on these 3 stocks leads me to believe you are still strongly in favor of all 3. Please confirm.

Thanks...Steve

Q: Hi: With continued huge increases in US shale oil production and possible US oil self dependency to what extent could this decrease demand for Canadian oil volumes to the US thereby negatively impacting Canadian pipeline companies and thus share values? Thanks.

Q: For a 3 year hold,which of trp or enb would be your preference?

Q: One would think that if there won't be NEW pipelines built for the foreseeable future (thanks Trudeau!), then one could conclude that existing pipeline companies would be more valuable...the old supply vs demand argument => positive for the existing pipeline companies. Then one would muse about where would their future growth come from=> negative. However, I seem to remember that TRP has BILLIONs of approved projects in the cue => positive for TRP. Your thoughts on the pipeline companies in general and specifically on TRP. I have a 2/3 position and am considering topping it up. Thanks...Steve

Q: "The new annual dividend rate applicable to the Series N Shares for the five-year period commencing on December 1, 2018 to, but excluding, December 1, 2023 will be 5.086 percent, being equal to the five-year Government of Canada bond yield of 2.436 percent determined as of today plus 2.65 percent in accordance with the terms of the Series N Shares.” (Quote from November 1 PRNewswire)

In hindsite I am thinking that I should have just bought 2 good dividend paying stocks, such as T, TRP, PPL, and FTS. ENB would also be high on my list though I do have a full position. The others are about a half position.

1 - Does this make any sense? I am thinking that the dividends are close to the 5% of the Preferred O shares and the chances of recovering some of my loses are probably better. somehow I think the Series O Preferred's don’t stand much chance of getting back to $25.00 in the next 5 years.

2 - Correct me if I am wrong but Enbridge won’t likely call the shares in unless the rates drop quite bit?

3 - If you believe that my thinking makes sense would you rank the suggested stocks including ENB in order of preference. Feel free to add any other Dividend stock over my suggestions

4 - What scenario would make the value of Series N appreciate or go up in value?

Please take as many credits as necessary for my questions.

John

Q: do you consider trp to show improvement in 2019 ?

Q: Following up on a recent question regarding allocating the appropriate amount of monies to each stock, the amount depending on the size, safety, etc of that security. Would you agree with the current split (full, partial, small):

Full = AD (should be partial), AQN, BCE, BNS, FTS, RY, TRP.
Partial = CGX (could be full?), CSH, NFI, PGH (could be full?), TCL, WSP (could be full?).
Small = WCP.

Thanks...Steve

Q: I track my asset allocation in detail...retired, lots of time and interest to do so. I break out ETFs and my few mutual funds by sector. A few of my stocks are split into a pair of sectors. As an example, TRP is sometimes referred to as a Utility, but seems to track the Energy sector...so I split it 50-50. Ditto for CSH...I split it 50-50 between REITs and Healthcare.

Both NFI and TCL are listed on the Company Profile as being in the Consumer sector, but I have seen them both in the Industrial sector as well. Using my TRP and CSH examples above (to be consistent in my tracking methodology), where should NFI and TCL be allocated...solely to one sector or 50-50?

Thanks,
Steve

Q: 10:34 AM 11/7/2018
In this morning's answer to Grant you said ; "TRP debt is about 7X cash flow; PPL about 3.5%.[I presume you meant 3.5X].

In any event when I look at the Companies search pages for these companies which metrics should I look at to find out the level of debt for each. I see no numbers that might correspond to 7X for TRP or 3.5X for PPL.

Thanks........... Paul K

Q: Will the Keystone project be in danger now that the Democrats have regained control of the House?

Q: I am considering a purchase of either TRP or PPL, with dividend and stock price stability being more important than growth. Which do you prefer, and please also comment on the payout, debt levels, and exposure to the oilsands.
Thanks, Grant

Q: would you buy any of these pipeline? and which ones for which reason?

Q: If you have to pick one of these companies for income and bit of growth over long term, which one will it be and why?
Thanks

Q: I am a retired, conservative, dividend income investor and have 1/2 to 2/3 positions in each of these securities. I trim-add to my stocks when my asset allocation needs adjusting (recently topped up BCE, BNS). I am considering topping up these 4 stocks, but am fully aware that Tax Loss Selling Season will soon be in full swing. Having said that, all 4 of these stocks have already been beaten up a fair bit.

I know you are NOT a market timer, but does your crystal ball foresee further downside as we work our way through the next 2 months of Tax Loss Selling? Using TCL as an example, you just added 1% to your position. I am sure you must have had quite an internal 5iR discussion about "when" to add that position vs. your 10% cash position at that time and the need to deploy some of it. OR...is it as simple as...this stock has been beaten up so much, it has excellent value now, we know we can't time the bottom, so let's just buy it now?

Thanks...Steve

Q: Hi 5i team.

I'm primarily an income oriented investor and have over half of my portfolio in cash right now due to selling a house. I have a full position (which is 4% for me) of ENB (through ENB and ENF). I'm thinking of adding gradually building a full position in TRP as well. Do you see enough difference in the two pipeline companies to justify owning both and is 8% too heavy for that sector.

Thanks
Peter

Q: With the price of WCS oil at record lows , if the producers cut back production will these pipeline companies be hurt. Besides rising interest rates are there any other headwinds with these two companies?

Q: I want to consolidate my utility sector as I have too many.I currently own the below in my non registered account. Which would you sell and which would you add to? Below are the weightings:
EMA 5.7, BEP 3.4, ENB 5.2, FTS 5.10 , AQN 3.0, BCE 7.5, TRP 3.3
Looking for income
Thanks for your great service,

Q: Which 5 companies stand to benefit the most assuming Shell's Canada LNG Project goes ahead? Thank you.

Q: Need to choose between TRP and AQN. Your advice?? Thanks

Q: Can I have your opinion on TRP. It’s share price seems to be struggling lately.
Thanks: Jerry